Tamaqua, Hometown and West Penn Fire Police volunteers worked together recently during a large mock vehicle accident drill held in the parking lot of the Tamaqua Elementary School. During the drill, fire police units spent time going over new state requirements as well as setting up mock detour sites, helicopter landing sites and structure fire buffer zones.
“Communication is key when working in high traffic areas,” said Hometown Fire Police Captain Merle Wertman, a 41-year volunteer. “Without it, people can get hurt.”
“Working together is extremely important when on scene of a house fire or vehicle accident,” said Tamaqua Fire Police Captain Bob Schlorf, a 36-year volunteer. “The safety of all emergency responders on scene is priority.”
Area Fire Police operate under the Fire Police Statue as a non-profit organization, granted by the Pennsylvania Legislation known as the Title 35 Health & Safety Fire Police Act 122 under the current law. Under the Act of 1941, Special Fire Police Officers were legally created to act in emergency situations and then only when their fire departments were involved. This enabled the officers to provide protection for their fire companies. Later, the act was amended to give the officers the power to act without fire company involvement.

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